Mats rally back for win

By Dick Sparrer

This was a game Monta Vista really needed.

The Matadors were playing at home against last-place Homestead, and they couldn't afford an upset if they had any hopes of remaining in a virtual first-place tie with Wilcox in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Of course, the rival Mustangs were going to do anything they could to make that upset happen. And when they put up a five-spot in the fifth inning, the Mustangs had jumped in front of the Matadors 6-5 in the Friday afternoon game.

Meanwhile, down the road in Santa Clara, Wilcox was putting up football numbers on the scoreboard in a 22-8 victory over Milpitas at Carney Lansford Field.

The Matadors didn't know it at the time, but they would have to come from behind for the victory just to keep pace with the Chargers in the race for the division lead.

And that's just what they did. Monta Vista battled from behind not once, but twice, to pull out a thrilling 9-8 win over the Mustangs.

The victory left the Mats 8-3 in the division, and just a half game behind Wilcox (9-3) in the race for first place.

Cupertino (7-5), Fremont (6-6) and Milpitas (5-7) are battling it out for play-off berths, but the title race has literally turned into a two-team chase. And the Mats kept their hopes alive with the win last Friday.

Ryan Oliver and Ajay Nagdev spanked three hits apiece, and Ryan Mitchell and Brian Laatsch added two each to lead Monta Vista to the clutch win over Homestead. Laatch and Oliver each drilled doubles and knocked in two runs apiece.

Homestead scored a run in the first, but Monta Vista answered back with three in the home half of the frame to take a quick 3-1 lead. The Matadors added two more in the fourth, and appeared to hold a comfortable 5-1 advantage.

But the Mustangs made the Mats very uncomforable in a hurry when they rallied for five runs in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead. Monta Vista scored two in the sixth to go back up 7-6, but Homestead scored two in the top of the seventh to lead 8-7.

Monta Vista came through in the bottom of the seventh with two runs, though, and pulled out the exciting 9-8 victory.

Nick Grant came on in relief to pick up the mound win for the Matadors. It was his second win of the week, and pushed his pitching record to 4-1.

Adam Milliken doubled twice in the game for Homestead, and Chris Dreyer singled and doubled to knock in three runs for the Mustangs. Bob Schroeder added two hits, and Aaron Hall doubled.

Monta Vista and Wilcox had both opened the week with wins over Los Gatos. The Chargers knocked off the Wildcats 11-4, and the Matadors tamed the Cats 11-6 a day later.

Grant was the winning pitcher for the Matadors in the victory over Gatos, and Matt Cannon came on to pick up his second save of the year.

Cannon singled and doubled to drive in a pair of runs to lead the Monta Vista offensive assault. Dustin Realini singled and doubled for the Mats, and Laatsch, Nagdev and Mitchell added two hits each.

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